The cost of living for a family of five in Lusaka has dropped by 455.37 for the month of October 2025, mainly attributed to price drop in selected food items.
JCTR Social and Economic Development Programme Officer Lukwesa Musonda says the basket dropped from K11,289.98 last month to K10,834.61 this month mainly attributed to drop in the cost of food items which fell from K4,917.90 in September to K4,401.74 this month
Ms. Musonda says notable reductions were recorded in kapenta, chicken, and soya pieces, though prices of vegetables and bananas rose slightly, reflecting instability in fresh produce markets.
She says non-food essentials remained relatively stable, increasing slightly from K6,372.06 to K6,432.87, while charcoal prices rose from K516.99 to K553.33 per 90kg bag, adding pressure on household energy costs.
Despite the marginal relief, JCTR notes that many families continue to struggle to meet basic needs without sacrificing food quality or skipping meals, conditions that threaten nutrition, and long-term poverty reduction.
The Centre has since urged government and stakeholders to strengthen local food production systems, improve market transparency to prevent exploitative pricing, and create opportunities for decent work through skills development and access to credit.
By Rachel Mumba
